Brew…ha…ha… Denver house becomes a Halloween haunted haven

Sister Fanny Bottom is excited to brew spells with the children in Denver Borough this Halloween.

Fanny Bottom is the alter ego for Jennifer Pote.

“You haven’t met Sister Fanny Bottom,” said Pote. “She’s not here yet because I’m flying all the way from England, but I sent my sister gifts from Transylvania and Paris. She brings spells from her brew for the children of the world to make sure everybody in need — adults to children — have clothes on their back and food in their bellies.”

Pote and Fanny Bottom work with the elderly at Senior Helpers in Ephrata.

“I just love them!” Pote said about the people she helps.

Their sister, Lisa Steffy, who lives at 313 Tamarack Drive in Denver Heights, will host their annual Halloween haunted house. Steffy started the preparations and began decorating last February and goes all out. She transforms the entire downstairs except for the kitchen and bathroom. Her family lives in close quarters around the project for months.

“Stop the madness!” joked Bonnie Brown, from the OMPH Food Bank on Pine Street in Ephrata.

Brown said Steffy has gone “over-the-top” this year.

All three are doing this for fun and for a good cause. That cause benefits Peter’s Porch and the OMPH Food Bank.

People of any age are invited, but the scare level is aimed for kids eight and under, who must have a parent with them on Oct. 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. to tour the house.

A donation of a new or gently used coat, canned good, or dry cereal will be accepted upon arrival. Then each guest will be escorted around the downstairs stations and tunnels by a “ghost host” because parts of the tour are conducted in the dark.

Kids in neighborhoods get to know the houses which hand out apples and which hand out full-size candy bars. The Steffy house will be the top house to go to.

“We’re actually giving away brand new Beanie Babies this year.” Steffy said. “In the first room, we give them a magic want glow stick so they can be seen on the streets, and a book from our gigantic selection. They get a picture with Rosie.”

Rosie is a large witch figurine to which they dedicate the event. Rosie was their mother and a former Rockette who passed away 20 years ago. In another room, kids get to sit at the table and have candy with Rosie.

“The kids come back every year and remember her,” said Steffy.

The guests will be given a pouch to fill with ingredients they find along their way to help Sister Fanny Bottom brew the spell to help children.

“They end in the garage and give Sister Fanny Bottom the ingredients and there’s a touch-feel station where they touch dragon eyes and wolves tongue,” said Steffy. They also have to find Mrs. Fanny Bottom’s cat which disappeared.”

Steffy, Pote, Brown, and Bottom spend a lot of time and their own money to put this together.

“If I just wrote a check for everything I spend every year for this, I think the food bank would be stocked,” said Steffy. “We got lots of donations this year, so that was great.”

They have a blast doing it and are happy to help in their fun way.

Steffy was effusive in complimenting the assistance of so many.

“This event would not be possible without the talents and support of our living family and friends,” she said, “especially our amazing father, Peter Pote, haunted tunnel builder!”

“OMPH is really a community food bank,” said Brown. “We have very few parishioners that go there. We probably have 30 to 60 families a week that come and they get food. We give pre packed boxes.”

“Pastor Joe will be collecting coats for Peter’s Porch,” Steffy said.

Peter’s Porch distributes non-perishable food items in partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Joe Veres is pastor at Faith United Lutheran located on Walnut Street in Denver.